TrailWarrior

My rear XT RD M786 SGS Shadow Plus Derailleur is giving me grief! When shifting up or down...that is no problem. The problem is that the derailleur does not move backwards or forward to take up the slack or tension on the chain when the shifting is done. It is in lock out position and even in unlock position does the same. Only 2000km done?? What is the problem?? After washing, lube is applied to all working comps. Been to the LBS and they couldn't even sort out. Ordered a new XT deraillure but this time with no fancy switches which I think may be the problem. Can anybody help?

My second Trans B and again a two man team, and again lost my race partner....this time one check point earlier @ 3. Managed to take 5hrs off my last year"s disaster, as well as the drama this year...... be back next year!! Awesome race!

Fabes.....it looks to be a total of 220km according to my plot....and my Garmin is rarely wrong.... http://connect.garmin.com/course/4427279

Thks Pax..... now I have got it locked into my Garmin

Anybody know where the race route or what route we will follow just outside Jefferies seeing the finish is now at the Fountain Mall? I am having a problem trying to upload the map on TB website (track4africa)..... I know they will tell us at registration but i was hoping to plot it on my Garmin.....

This is just such friggin awesome reading and putting this journey into perspective! Awesome stuff Eric!

Add to that +1000

The Freedom Challenge! For some of us in the know, thinking or wanting to do it for the first time, its an adventure fantasy of the unknown. For most of us I am sure, know what it is like when we go out there and acheive some of out goals on our bikes in our training, our races but we also know the feeling of failure when things don't work out and how we take it and how we deal with it. We would like to or want to do this 'thing" (FC) but our inbuilt human nature pins hesitation in our minds from time to time but it's a hesitation of the unknown train of thought to why there is hesitation in the first place and when we find ourselves here, it creates doubt.?? Do you want to do the Freedom Challenge? I do! (2015) BUT I have one fear. That is the fear of failure. I am just the average middle age Joe who loves spending time on my bike. Having done numerous road rides, races, multi day road tours, short mountain bike races, this is something I would love to do. An ultimate challenge. Not for anybody or anything, but to do it for me. There is a line I picked up and it has stuck with me for days on end: If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.... Are there any other "nutters out there that find themselves in this place......

This time of year this Freedom Challenge really engrosses me....as it has the past 3 years when I 1st started following it.......got to remind myself I also have work to do..mmmm? I would so like to do this challenge one day soon but wonder if I've got the b*lls to do it! LOL! There again, sometimes they say, "If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try" . Tubes! great feedback updates on this forum and awesome pics....!!

WOW! Plenty choices......... thanks for the response guys!

I have aquired a new set of Easton EA90XC and having wanted to put on my fav tyres that I have always stuck to (Maxxis Larsen TT tubeless)and never given me an ounce of trouble and just a good all round tyre, it would seem there are none around!! ....... There is a short MTB race coming up in 2 weeks and need to get some tyres as well as want to use the wheels in the Trans Baviaans in August! Anybody got some good advice on options of 29er ust/tubeless tyres? Need strong sidewall, not too concerned about weight (within reason) and a general all round tyre for all conditions. Any advice out there??

Incredible!!! WOW!

Panther here is a link to my Garmin plotted map of the Trans Baviaans. http://connect.garmin.com/course/3997053 If you got any questions, please ask....

These guys really have my respect! Rooting for Charles who is riding on off with Christo.....go for it mate! Nearly there! Thanks for the feedback Tubes!!

No Jaffels at Checkpoint 7!!Mmmmm.. ......the only place I chowed was checkpoint 1 - roosterbrood.... I had such heartburn after....I ended up pulling the whole way practically on energy & protein bars, bananas, a cup of tea, a cup of hot chocolate, 2 cokes, packet biscuits and my 32GI bottles....At checkpoint 5 I tried to push down a "chip roll" but so burned with the gastric acid I abandoned the idea.....But I guess when you've had bad luck en-route don't expect much to be left behind if you are behind.... .... deep down I was disappointed bout all that....the left overs...where they were.... BUT....I'll be back next year....!! eat up a storm!!!

My 1st Trans Baviaans turned into disaster en-route to Bergplaas. Light fading fast...and my partner started cramping badly to a point of unwalkable and our 16hr goal crumbled! Lost 3hrs on that mountain trying to get him going. Managed to get to Bergplaas checkpoint at 11pm. Got assigned to a team that had no time goal and proved frustrating at times when all they wanted to do was camp around a fire?? I thought i would go insane with the waiting!....so finally road into the finish in 22hrs!!! Longest night of my life!....... Big congratulations to the top riders in times that were super insane!! as well as big up to all the others who got to the finish! Looking for photo's from the event...anybody know of photographers that were there??

Any for 198? would love to see? will they be uploaded to your web address?

Guys.....tell me.....the support driver that registers......if he doesn't pitch at checkpoint 5...... (is it compulsory)..... for example, if I would rather have him checking in at checkpoint 6 and not worry about checkpoint 5......would that be a problem??? Just asking

I still say the weather is gonna hold......feedback I'm getting from Willowmore area....

...Hanging onto a wings of a prayer that my partner's knee has recovered sufficiently for Bavs & I will be over the nagging dry cough stemming from a lite dose of flu three weeks ago....& if the rain stays away and the river levels drop.... Boy! that will be a happy ending!!! ...

Thats the spirit!!!

I think the weather is going to hold.....well, lets keep them fingers crossed. Prediction is cold/chilly but sunny skies for next weekend's Trans Bav....

Yeah....I know the vehicles can only come from J-Bay side....but you still need to cross the Gamtoos river to get to Komdomo...& according to the vid.....this crossing is under water.....????

Guys....the vid on Trans Baviaans route taken on 4 Aug by the organisers..... if you have a support vehicle and they are meeting you at checkpoint 5, surely that means one would have to have a 4x4 with good ground clearance as one would have to cross the Gamtoos river from Jeffrey B side which evidently is also "the deepest one" (depicted on the video) when it comes to river crossing....?? am I correct or am I disorientated??

Lets hope it doesn't come to this....quitting isn't in my volcab. Thks for the advice though...