sometime

You need to distinguish between Giant PXC2 and PXCR1 wheelsets. The former weigh well over 2kgs and I agree they suck and are an essential upgrade on any bike fitted with them. The latter are scandium rims and weigh 1750g which is the same as a ZTR Arch and Hope hub setup. I run both wheelsets, the Giant's on my Anthem, and the ZTR's on my Ritchey and there is no discernable difference between them. The Giants have been through thousands of km's the past 12 months including 2013 Epic with no problems.

PXCR1 is actually a pretty good wheelset as far as stock wheelsets go. I also broke one at World Masters XCO last year. They do come up for sale here occasionally or try you LBS where someone has 'upgraded' from them on their new bike.

I'm not sure it's a SRAM vs Shimano issue to be honest although anecdotally you'll always find some reason to prefer the one over the other. Like you I had terminal chainsuck on day 2 Sani2C 2013 which ruined the day for me and my partner. But I was running a drivetrain that had done a few thousand kms that year including the Epic 2 months earlier so I was being naive/cheap thinking I could get away with it in muddy conditions. My conclusion is always running a well set-up drive train, well lubed with proper oil not paraffin based nonsense & making sure the drivetrain is in relatively good shape with no obviously damaged teeth.

It's interesting you say that. I raced both Dullstroom and Sabie on Shimano XT 2x10 but fitted with very well used SLX chainrings and cluster (more than 3000km) and a newish SLX chain. I didn't have one moment of chainsuck in either race or any drivetrain admin to speak of. At Dullstroom I only stopped once to apply some lube on the long climb and at Sabie someone applied some lube for me at the second water point. Apart from that I didn't waste any time washing my bike in the river crossings and I didn't apply any more lube. I started both races with a properly cleaned drivetrain but coated with a healthy dose of Muc-Off wet lube (my only choice of lube regardless of conditions). So I don't think 1x11 is the only answer. There were plenty of riders out there (pro's included) who had plenty of drivetrain admin even on their 1x11's. I also saw and passed a number of 1x11 riders really struggling to turn their cranks on the big climbs whereas I had the range to spin out the big climbs and pace myself far better for the rest of the race. I won't say never but for now I see no reason to change from my 2 x 10.

Not unless you're a serious athlete. 34t is the sensible option on that course (Still can't figure out this 1x11 logic - give up range and have to consider which size chainring to ride when a 2x10 gives you all the range you need at a weight penalty that is irrelevant to 99.9% of riders).

Results don't look right to me yet. My own experience bears this out: They didn't pick up my board as a I crossed the line. Then they scanned it in manually 3 minutes later, then they had to write down my details as they didn't have my name on their database (despite the fact that I've had it for a few years now and race a few times a year...) and my number on the results page isn't my race number.

Impressive...

So were you at the race?

My sentiments exactly. I cannot fathom what thinking there is behind having 3 races converge on slightly technical tight single track at the finish of a race?! The ultra guys are on a different pace, the marathon guys are racing for a finish and the half-marathon guys (mostly) have neither the speed nor the skills to negotiate the single track at any kind of speed. It's unfair on every rider. As for running out of water on the last water point when the B guys were coming through! That is unforgiveable and had the potential to end really badly for someone. And lastly they cannot get the distance of altitude right. FFS guys; ride the course with more than one GPS, compare distance, do an elevation correction, then compare elevation gain. Take an average and publish that. NOT rocket science guys. I bet the Barberton guys are thinking to themselves = we told you so.

Let us know when you date a supermodel then report back on how much fun you think she was. Let us know when you've tried an S-Works Epic and then report back on how much fun you think it was. Until then whatever you say is mere conjecture.

My sympathies with Johan and I wish him a speedy recovery and I fully support any cyclist safety awareness campaign. But we are not going to easily change a seemingly entrenched South African culture of lack of respect for the law and each other. To that end we also need to take responsibility for our own safety within the context of the reality of the society we live in. Put simply minimise the risk of riding your bike on our roads by choosing to ride when and where appropriate. Riding a bicycle on Main road Bryanston at a time when we all know taxis (and others) use the yellow line is in my opinion, taking an unacceptably high risk. The same goes for many other roads around the country and we all need to consider the risks these roads pose to us and consider alternative routes & times. If that isn't possible then we seriously need to consider not riding those routes at those times.

Wow - Big H - you clearly have some serious unresolved personal issues that go far beyond cycling. Go get some help before you really do hurt someone. Switching someone with the stated intention of knocking them off their bikes and hurting them qualifies as criminal assault however justified you may feel in those actions. I have sat behind many tandems in races and made use of their slipstream and more often than not I am in no position to make any contribution to the pace in front so yes I just sit there. By the same token I have done plenty of races where I have been the 'half-bike' (BTW a very revealing choice of words there) that has done most of the work at the front of the bunch only to have those same guys go past me near the finish. I may have a strong opinion on their lack of etiquette but I could never imagine switching them knowing that their bikes could be irreparably damaged and/or they could be seriously hurt, paralysed or even killed as a result. My advise is go get some therapy and stay off the 'full bike' in the meantime.

Thanks That's the weekend after Joberg2C so no chance I can do that, Hopefully there will be other qualifying races.

Hi, I see Cascades in 'Maritzburg is hosting next year's MTB marathon world champs. Does anyone now what the qualifying criteria (if any) is for the race. i.e. is this for Elite riders only or also amateurs and Masters? Thanks

We commuted to and from the race on the spruit. The commute was great, the race rubbish (pun intended).

Averaging 4 days a week is how we trained for Epic this year and how we'll train for J2C next year. And we did a lot better than finish within the allotted time each day on Epic. For me training is a far more about quality and intensity (and of course rest) than quantity. So back on topic absolutely no reason why anyone can't comfortably complete 3 day stage races on 2 - 3 days of training per week. Go in there with realistic expectations, pace yourself accordingly and ride within your technical ability.

Seriously guys your nanny is now probably retired and living in the Transkei and her name is not Gary Green or Farmer Glen. It's time to be an adult and take responsibility for yourself and not expect others to do so for you. If it's too tough for you or you feel out of your comfort zone then stop; no shame in that. But you bring shame upon yourself complaining about tough conditions on a 3 day MTB stage race in the bush in the middle of an African summer.

Hi, I'm selling my wife's women's specific MTB in the classifieds and it may be suitable for you. This bike was specifically designed for women taking into account their different body geometry. At 168cm tall you are possibly between a small and a medium (my wife is 172cm and her bike is a medium). The price is negotiable. We're in Emmarentia JHB. https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/64785-2009-giant-anthem-xw-women%E2%80%99s-specific-m/ Thanks

Hi, Is the finance on a lease, instalment sale, personal loan or rental basis? Are the 5 to 10 points below credit card rates basis points or percentage points? Thanks

They better have that descent on the 2 day! I did it at the SSWC and last year's Descent and you're right it is something special. I'm back doing the 2 day this year with my wife and I just assumed they would have it in. If it's not in I think we should ask Farmer Green if we can go back up the mountain sometime during the weekend and ride it?

He's p*ssed off a number of SA riders with the statement above. By all means if he regards their standard as being too low and if he believes his potential is not being realised here, then go overseas. But if it doesn't work out there and he needs to return to SA, he's not going to find too many SA pro's willing to help him getting a place on a pro SA team. But good luck to him - I hope it works out.

I arrived two days before our race with the intention of putting in quite a few laps getting to know the course but managed to crash twice in my opening 1.5 practice laps the last of which broke my front wheel and ended my practice. I eventually got a lightweight wheel on loan but could do two more practice laps. Since it wasn't my wheel and as I was too heavy for it I couldn't take a chance trying out the second log jump so I never got to practise that before the race itself. As a result I made the call to take the B line on that jump during the race. I initially found the Master's course pretty intimidating but once I found the right lines and momentum I absolutely loved it even if the grip levels were pretty sketchy with all the dust. I was never comfortable on the first log jump as flying my bike into a blind landing is not something I've ever done and I only got it right on the last lap of the race. To be honest I was both disappointed and relieved that the corkscrew drops were taken off the course. I would love to have known that I could ride them, but at the same time that section claimed a lot of riders and I wouldn't have been happy to have joined them especially given the fact that I'd already donated some skin, blood and a front wheel to the course As it was I was chuffed to stay upright and finish the race and the few seconds I dropped taking the B line on the second log drop may have cost me a place, but in the context of the race and my ambitions was meaningless. What a brilliant experience and course!

Jeremy Thomson was riding a rather nice looking and very light feeling Pyga 650b carbon hardtail at masters. Chatting to him after our race he is very chuffed with it.

2 articles which illustrate my point perfectly - thanks. Oh and I'll take you a friendly wager that the lovely Ms Batty will be on a 650b as soon as Trek build one. :-)

Wow you rode the Freedom Challenge - I guess that means you're qualified to call what I wrote above as 'absolute rubbish' and 'excrement'. Chain stay lengths are the same no matter what the size of Niner frame you've got. 'Low slung top tube', 'Small Frame' and '29er' - pick any two. You only have to look at the bikes of pro's riding small 29er frames and see those inverted stems and even downsweep bars for proof of this. To get the right top tube length on a small 29er frame you've got a problem with getting the big front wheel to clear the down tube and the rider's feet. Only way to do that is change the head angle and or seatpost angle and/or run a longer than ideal top tube i.e. you need to compromise. So can you build a small 29er? Of course you can. Are there compromises involved - of course there are and a Google search of interviews with any of the technical staff of the mainstream manufacturers (who have forgotten more about bike geometry than the collective geometry knowledge of this forum) will confirm this. Are these compromises applicable to small 27.5 and 26 inch bikes - no they're not but of course they themselves are subject to other compromises. So at he risk of stating the obvious ride what works best for you but don't blindly and ignorantly regard what you have as being perfect and free of compromise.