NotShatterProof

I don't own a gravel bike (only MTB) but I would say the routes are OK. From a safety perspective you should be fine except for the small section where you turn left and head to the mall on the highway (from a traffic perspective) from other perspectives see below. Some specific comments: 1. Route to Wilderness. When you get off the Saasveld road you can stay on Whites road, I think it will be more enjoyable that way on a gravel bike, and a bit longer and a gentler descent. 2. Knysna 1. Looks fine, Comment above applies. Be warned though, the section around Rondevlei is always extremely corrugated (people in cars and trucks have no mercy) 3. Knysna 2. Looks fine but be careful at the turn-off from the 7-passes toward Hoekville, there is a big township there and I have had some threatening behaviour there in the past. However, nowadays I get there really early and then the trouble causers seem to be asleep mostly 4. Knysna 3. Looks fine see comments above. Be aware however, in the summer sections of that route around the Ruigtevlei forestry station can get very sandy and will require a fair bit of skill or a lot ot trudging in very hot conditions. 5. Knysna 4. Legendary route, will be great on a gravel bike I think. The Homtini pass is almost always rutted so resist the temptation to go fall blast on the downhill. As you get up to Rheenendal there is a township where I have had some heckling in the past but in general (i.e. almost always) it is fine. If I get some more time I will check out the other routes. Depending on your taste for adventure there is plenty more stuff you can do. Top of my head for a gravel bike: ride to Bergplaas, ride to the top of the Montagu (exercise caution at the quarry though).

Excellent. Thanks. I'll see what I can arrange. Apologies for the long delay but I only happened to see this because I was reading another thread and it popped up a notification.

Does look good. Can they be purchased here (as in South Africa)?

Wow, I could not imagine a 500Ah battery on an ebike, at any combinatin of voltage and current that would be significant weight. Generally I would say that somewhere from 500Wh to 1000Wh sounds reasonable for a Li-Ion. That would give a weight in the region of 2.5 to 5kg. I'm using my PylonTechs weight as a yardstick here, it may be that the newer e-bikes have a slightly better energy density. Nevertheless, I think this could be a fun calculation to do. edit: Just saw that it's you Fat Boab, good to see you around, your advice from last year was useful, my little ride down to the coast was awesome.

Here's a tough one: can you supply one of those star ring removal tools at a price that is not astronomical. I have more DT swiss hubs than I care to admit and enough friends that I am often working on them (the hubs, not the friends). One thing I cannot do: a proper bearing service. Seems like I need this gizmo. I could be wrong though, so please correct me if I am. Sorry about image size.

Agee with Zebra and Potato above. Cranks with a larger Q factor are available (one of the incarnations of Saint I think). Also agree, it would be very unlikely for steel to snap. Bending, especially if you're doing jumps or other crazy stuff at close to 100kg (with bottles etc.) may not be advisable. At various times while my not shatter proof body was recovering from not shatter proofness I rode with a self made 5mm extender with no ill effect on the pedals/cranks, but I weigh less and have given up trying to be a downhiller. I found the 5mm spacer did improve scuffing on the frame/cranks but I found the long term effects are detrimental (on your body). I would question why you need such a wide stance and possibly consider a shoe insert along with a small spacer and/or cranks, to get a cumulative effect. Still, you should have your shoe setup checked if you can.

Thank you very much. PM is on its way.

I'll be on an MTB. Predominantly on the road but also some gravel where (I think) it is safe.

Hi Everyone, Riding west and south: I'm planning a longish ride solo in the next few weeks. I intend to ride down Witkoppen and turn towards Muldersdrift. From there I will ride on toward Randfontein. From Randfontein I intend to ride to Fochville and finally on to Parys. I am open to route suggestions but really would like to know if there are any known danger areas along the proposed route. I'm quite willing to share KML/KMZ/GPX of the proposed route. Any and all help welcome. Thanks.

Here's an example: I recently bought a 36T for the SS, paid R1100 for it. When I got home I looked at the old 33T and changed my mind. Sent the wife back to exchange it for a 34T. She phones me in a flat panic from the shop telling me that she has to pay in R500 because the new stock has come in. That's a rather large exchange rate movement. Fixing, exchange rate, call it what you want, it seems excessive. Just as a matter of interest the same 36T is about R600 on CRC. Now I ride a 36T to work.

The piece of the old-JHB where it crosses the N14. I come out of the neighbourhood just before that and turn off again just after that.

No, there is no pavement on that section of road. In fact, it is one of the few sections where I am forced to use the road because it crosses the highway at that point. Going in the opposite lane in that particular location is most certainly suicidal.

Afraid not, I was so completely stunned (and they were pretty belligerent) that I just wanted to get out of there.

Hi Hubbers, Last night while commuting home I was forcibly pulled over and stopped by a metro police vehicle complete with flashing lights and siren. The police officer inside rolled down his window and told me that if I was killed it was my own fault and I was looking for trouble. Totally surprised I pointed out my various lights on my bike (which were all on), and that I was wearing a helmet and other safety gear. To this he replied my problem was that I was not allowed to cycle on the left hand side of the road, and that all cyclists should be riding into oncoming traffic (on the wrong side). I have been commuting to work for 25 years, and for the last 10 of those between Pretoria and Jo-burg, and I have never heard anything so crazy. Can anyone shed some light on this, why would the metro police be under this impression. Any comments or opinions out there?

You know, I leave the route by more than 5m all the time, but then again that's usually shortly after my speed exceeds my talent...

Any comments on the picture of Langvad and Kleinhans fixing their Fast Trak Control. Suitable tyres for the conditions? Not an attempt to start a "best tyre" flame war, just want to hear some opinions.

Hi Rob and crew, thanks for putting on a really nice event. A special thanks also for that cup of tea, I really was freezing and wet and that sure revived me. It was a great ride despite the mud and I will be back.

Hey Johan, I only found out now. I really hope you get better soon. I was wondering why I didn't see you either in Irene or Old Jhb. Get better soon dude, I look forward to riding to work with you again. SK.

I do admit that I checked a couple of times just to make sure I wasn't going crazy.

For those who have followed this topic, this is just my 2c worth: I had set of Conti Race Kings bought over the internet that would not run true on my Mavic ST racing wheels. After much frustration and following all the advice in this thread I gave up and raced them humps and all. At the joberg2c I decided to put the Conti's onto my training wheels (DT Dwiss rims) as spares, and put a pair of Schwalbes onto the Mavics. To my amazement the Conti's true on the DT Swiss rims, whereas the Schwalbe's also had a slight wobble to them on the Mavics. I followed Johan's advice and soaped them up and pumped to the max. pressure and they did seat somewhat but never completely. Nevertheless, the DT Swiss/Conti combo ran true, so much so, I ended up racing them. So are the tires duds, or is it a rim problem? I would say it is a combination of the two problems, but that is just in my particular case. Hopefully this experience will give hope to any of you who are as frustrated as I was.