Jaz

Thanks for the replies so far. I have pedals similar to these, and wear my normal Nike takkies. They don't slide forward or backward, but when I jump, my feet lift off the pedals when landing. I guess I need to work on my technique. I watched pro slopestyle videos and noticed they keep their knees together, close to the frame when riding. Does this sound like a first step I should try?

Hey bud, I'm a size10/11, based in JHB. I'd love to try it out!

First off, I'm not a super serious rider. I enjoy the trails simply to get out and ride in nature. My problem is that my feet keep jumping off the pedals when I'm going downhill in rough terrain, or doing small jumps. I have wider aftermarket pedals with metal nubs that improved lateral grip by miles. Yet I struggle to keep my feet on the pedal when jumping. How do I fix this?

I'm getting tired of drinking plain water during a trail ride. What do you put in your water bottle, other than water? Or what can I add to the bottle to make it taste better?

I uploaded short clip to YT

The towbar was specced with the car. We'll take it to a shop to have a look at it.

We recently bought a Thule 4bike towbar carrier for my wife's Hyundai Venue. The type that tightens onto the ball with a screw, and then you hang the bikes from the carrier. The max vertical weight is 75kg. We weighed all 4 bikes and the carrier, and they come to 68kgs. So we loaded 'em up today and went to the bike park. The movement of the bikes made me prematurely grey, but they remained secure. I then noticed I can lift up the bike carrier, and and the whole towbar lifts up with it. With the bikes on, it moves downward. I'm guessing it's got about 4-5cm play in it. Is this normal? The tow hitch is bolted onto the frame with two bolts. It might have a slot cut into it to allow for flex?

Wait, how do you get here?

R2999 vs R3799

I need to get a 4 bike carrier that fits on a towbar. I see Holdfast is slightly cheaper than Thule. Would anyone recommend them, or should I stay away?

XC and trail riding, nothing hectic. Hardtail with air shocks.

What are the typical maintenance items you need to take care of to ensure your parts are kept in good condition? What do you need to do after every ride, every month, six months, year etc?

Great points, my hands are fully functional and I don't have issues with grip. Sometimes when I ride my motorbike, the vibrations cause a slight pins and needles feeling, but nothing major. My surgeon just recommended I take certain supplements a day or two before I ride to address any issues.

I'm getting closer to buying my first proper MTB. I popped round to Mellow Velo today and spoke to Wesley, great chap! My budget is around R12k (bike only) I'm keen on the Titan Rogue Sport, since it has air shocks and the brand itself seems to be great value for money. Of course, any other reputable brand in the same price range will be considered. Both my wrists have been broken in the past, one hand has no cartilage and screws, while the other only has screws extra. I've been cleared by the surgeon to ride cycles. Wesley recommended the air shocks, to lessen the impact of terrain and vibrations on my hands. I'm looking at doing road/trail rides, not bliksem down a mountain jumping over rocks and stray animals. Is there really such a big difference, in your own experience, between the two shock types? Or do I save R2k and go for a Scott-type cycle?

Thanks guys, you've been a great help! We still need to tweak the budget, I'll do that after seeing what's available!