sometime

well done!

We rode with Chris Froome doing the double for Joel Stransky's Lumohawk charity. With some pushing we managed to get our whole group across the line in 2h56 for the first lap and then headed out for a more leisurely second lap but with a lot more pushing this time. I'd forgotten how 'messy' it is at the back of the field - broken people and bikes everywhere and some real chops with no respect for other cyclists or the risks they take pushing through non-existent gaps.

I'm not familiar with this term - please explain?

32x18

Respect!

I'm now riding for a different charity on Sunday but I do have something called the Cape Epic before next years 94.7 so maybe I can raise some money for CHOC there. Otherwise next year sounds like a great idea.

Pinarello fixie was very cool - they just need to put some retro brakes on it.

With pleasure!

It's a pity I didn't make the 2 laps decision earlier as it would've been great to help a great cause like CHOC - next year!

Thanks for all the replies. I'm starting shortly after 6am and should finish closer to 2.5 hours so no problems getting back out before the last bunch. The intended pace for the second lap will of necessity be relaxed so will get to enjoy the atmosphere for once. I think safest option is to lose the chip, restock from the car and head back out again (thanks Eldron).

What's your alcohol and/or sugar consumption like? Try cutting both/either out of your diet completely and see what happens?

I meet your requirements but am JHB based?

I'm planning on doing the route twice but I don't know if there are any issues with timekeepers/rules/officials etc. I would prefer to avoid having to take my timing chip back to my car so I guess I could try bypass the timing mats at the start and end of my second lap. Anyone else doing 2 laps or know if there are any special permissions needed? Thanks

Don't drink and post

Very cool looking bike! Love the colour! P.S. Your plants need some supplements...

Let's look at some real world numbers here: You should finance something over the period of time you expect to keep it for. So let's say 24 months is realistic for a 2011 bike. R30 000 financed over 24 months at an assumed interest rate of 17.1% (market rate from Capitec Bank) will cost you R1 463.85 p.m. You get to ride the bike you want now and it costs you R35 132 in total over 24 months. If you instead saved the R1 463.85 p.m. and invested that into a savings account at 4.5% it would take you 20 months to save the R30 000. So you would save paying the last 4 months off at R1 463 pm. giving a total saving of R5 855. Put differently to get to ride the bike you want NOW instead of saving for the next 20 months will cost you R292.77 p.m. (R5 855/20) Whether that's worth it only you can answer but for me R292 is dinner for two once a month. So let's see dinner for two once a month or get to ride the bike I want now? For me the bike wins every time. All this assumes you manage your cashflow and debt responsibly.

Module 109: How to test ride a bike after a service Module 110: How to take the bike back to the workshop if 109 above doesn't meet required standards (see modules 201 - 299) Module 111: How to phone the customer to collect their bike after, not before, above test ride

Seems USN and Northcliff Cycles have equally poor communication skills and disdain for current/prospective clients.

We can't answer your question properly without knowing how much you weigh?

Yes

You take the opinions of luddites on MTBR as the basis for determining the quality of a Chinese blank frame - seriously? Have you ever heard of post purchase rationalisation? That's pretty much sums up about 95% of what you read on MTBR. Like I said enjoy your choice of bike and the R3400 you saved instead of buying a Giant XTC Composite frame with a lifetime warranty and a proper racing R&D and racing pedigree for R7500. But please stop insulting those of us who make different choices to you - we're not wrong and you're not right either.

Volcan as you know is a Chinese blank frame marketed in South Africa only. FYI I don't regard it as a quality product. My mate crashed his Volcan 29er HT racing in Knysna earlier this year. The downtube snapped in half. At the risk of stating the obvious he did not replace it with another Volcan. Even though he really liked that bike he likes having his own teeth more.

You love banging your drum on this one don't you? We get it ok - we're all stupid for buying branded bikes and you're the man for being able to recognise a well made, well designed frame from a low res photo on the internet. Saying the frame must be good because 99% of all carbon fibre frames come out of the same district in China is like saying KFC on Corlett Drive is as good a restaurant as Orient in Melrose Arch because it's in the same district. Fact is that there are some shockingly bad frames being made in China that are a waste of money and could cause you real injury when/if they fail. There are also some good frames being made that do represent a real saving if all you're after is getting a frame as cheaply as possible and real world after sales service and support is not a priority for you. But how do you know what is and isn't a good frame? As always: Caveat Emptor

All good common sense stuff from the Green Jersey man, but I had a mate who stayed outside the camp, didn't use the camp toilets, water etc and got the gyppo's real bad. I'm guessing there was a bad batch of food/water either on one of the water points or in the camp itself.

Awesome three days of riding and congrats and thanks to the organisers for putting on such a fantastic event in trying conditions. It was a pity some of us came down with a nasty tummy bug on day 2 but that won't stop me from coming back next year. Proper mountain biking indeed on a course that hasn't been manicured and sanitised like Sani has. I certainly hope it stays that way!