El Duderino

Unfortunately, I can't make Sunday. Will just come and ride blind on the 10th. 😅 Have entered for the 5 stages. Looking forward to it!!

I might be keen to join this group on the 3rd. This will be my first WC enduro so keen to check out what I'm in for. I've entered the full and I'm on an acoustic bike.

Bring your bike. No need to ride that hell run between Fish Hoek and Muizenberg. And you don't have to ride Chappies, but it is full of cyclists on most weekends in summer. You can ride from Fishhoek the other way via Simonstown to Cape Point Reserve and ride in the reserve. It's a spectacular ride if you carry on to Scarborough and return to Fishoek via Kommetjie. Just have to run the gauntlet from Ocean View past Masi (never had any issues here myself).

I have had it with these mother trucking snakes on this mother trucking thread. (With apologies to the inimitable Samuel L Jackson.

Great choice...not that there's anything wrong with the Titans you were considering.

Also, you'll definitely notice the difference between dropper vs no dropper. It's huje!!

I have had Tacx Flux S for around 18 months. I have put about 280 hours (about 7700 kms) on it in that time using Zwift. No issues thus far so do not know how good the back-up service is from agents. Had to order a power cord as mine was lost in move to WC, and it arrived in a couple of days, no charge. Tacx is a Garmin product, so that's your back-up. I have no experience with the others, but would happily endorse the Flux S.

How do you know someone who has done the Epic has passed away? It's been 15 minutes and they haven't mentioned that they've done the Epic. Same applies to Vegans. (I'll show myself out.)

Yes, you can pay for a day pass at the gate. Someone else can confirm if they only take credit/debit cards or if it's only cash. Can never remember which.

Look at the Trek Top Fuel 9.8. It's in your price range. It's one of the top rated XC/Trail bikes for 2022.

If your rims can take tubeless ready tyres, I would get a set of Panaracer Gravelking slicks and set them up tubeless. You won't have a problem. I run them on my road bike and I've never had an issue...even on rough roads and the odd foray "off road."

I feel like I been Rickrolled after reading that!!

Downhill Race? It's my first time. Do I need a full face helmet and knee protectors?

Results from yesterday's SA Enduro Champs. Congratulations to Johann Potgieter on the win.

MP Enduro Results SA Enduro Champs 2022.xlsx

Yep, unfortunately it's true. Happened on Wednesday evening on Main Road in Kalk Bay. Cyclist run over by Pick n Pay truck. Rider clipped a pedal and fell over into the road as truck was passing by. Tragic incident.

I'm a long time mountain biker who recently started riding a road bike as well. Unless you're going to be racing on the road chasing podiums, I would not recommend a racing road bike. Rather get something like a Giant Defy or a Trek Domane. They can usually also take gravel tyres and be used as gravel bikes.

Have First Ascent Pro Elite bib and First Ascent Podium bib. Pro Elite is okay, Podium is excellent and can be bought for under 2K. Have used Podium for both long road and MTB rides. No issues. Will buy Podium again when replacing current bibs.

Well done, dude!! Sounds like fun was had...sorry I missed this, but it seems like it may have been beyond my limited abilities. Where's results...heard the KZN boy cleaned up?

I reckon something like this: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/za/trance-advanced-pro-29-2 If you can find one. I could not. Found a second hand 2019 Giant Trance on the Hub for an excellent price, but I decided to go brand new. Also did not like the yellow/green colour. It is probably still for sale and is a bargain. Here it is: https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/item/dual-suspension-bikes/560954/giant-trance-advanced-pro1-m-1x12-carbon

I was in a very similar situation to you. I own a 2015 Yeti SB5C trail bike with 27.5 wheels. I had the LR version where the fork was upgraded to the 160mm Fox 36. I still have the bike. It has 130mm travel at the rear. It was my do-it-all bike. I did Berg and Bush, "raced" (more fun than racing) enduro and rode everything on my local trails without issues. In 2019 I bought a short travel XC 29er to do long races. It was not very versatile and basically became a road bike that I occasionally used on long rides in sugar cane and easy trails. I mostly rode the Yeti. I sold the XC bike in early 2021. That brings me to mid-2022, where I was still riding a seven year old 650B trail bike. I began contemplating a more modern bike. I wanted something that would be comfortable and fast on long rides to keep up with the XC bikes, as hitting the 50+years has made me re-think what I want out of riding MTBs. But, I also wanted a bike that I felt could be used on slightly rowdier terrain that my Yeti is comfortable on. I had considered the short travel Giant Trance 29er, which gets excellent reviews, but there is no stock. So, I ended up with a 120mm/120mm Trek Top Fuel, which to me is an XC bike. But, this thing is nothing like my previous XC bike. It has 30mm rims, a 66 degree head angle and a fork that can take a beating despite the short travel. It is extremely capable, and I imagine with a 130mm Pike or Fox 34, would be an excellent trail bike. It is an upgrade I am considering. Is it better than the Yeti on the rowdy stuff? Probably not...maybe with that 130mm fork it will be? But, it blows the Yeti away in terms of climbing, speed over the chattery, easy-tech and flow trails. It is fast...and a blast to ride. The Yeti is will be sold in the coming weeks. The point is, I think you will be surprised by how good a 29er is and that using technology to have a better ride is fine. If we didn't want our bikes to make things easier, we'd still be riding rigid bikes with road bike geometry like they did in the 70's in Marin County, California, where mountain biking was born.

YOH! That looks nice!! How do you find it handles the rougher stuff as this is definitely an upgrade I'm considering. Excluding the flat pedals, though. 😅

Gone over to the Dark Side...moved from a 650B 130/150mm Trail bike to this svelte 29ER 120/120mm XC machine.