Karakoram

I couldn't get used to the drop bars on my Trek 920 touring/gravel bike. The bike's SRAM S700 Doubletap brake/shifter levers were okay, but I had constant problems with brake rub and had to barrel adjust ever so often for the shifting to work well. Both annoyances were really not what you want when you are far from base in hot dusty conditions, especially brake rub. So, I decided to fit an Alt-bar (FSA Metropolis - a flat bar with a back sweep) that I had available. This conversion also required new flat-bar brake levers and shifters to complete the setup. Shimano Brakes and 2 x 10 shifters are not readily available at the moment. Rummaging through my parts bin, I came upon two new Sunrace friction shifters which I always wanted to use and now seemed the perfect opportunity to do so. Our local bike shop fitted new Tektro brake levers and calipers and I did the friction shifter fitment. The Sunrace SLM10 shifters were super easy to fit and set up. They are not indexed and will shift just about anything. All you have to do is set the limit screws on the front and rear derailleurs and that's it. (The Sunrace Falcon Top Mount shifters set currently sell for about R240 on eBay, including shipping). Shifting is smooth and the new bar makes the bike feel nimble and a lot more comfortable. The shifters are very easy to get accustomed to and it is comforting to know that there won't be any compatibility issues if an odd emergency sprocket or derailleur is the only part available far from home. Should have done this long ago. It is time to ditch index shifting.

I just converted my gravel/touring bike (Trek 920) to a flat bar setup. I have the bike's original drop bar fitted with SRAM S700 Doubletap brake - shifter lever set (with calipers) for a 2 x 10 drive train, available for sale. The parts are very new, only done 900km. Asking price R3,000. Let me know if you are interested.

Replacement Fat-Bike tyres are getting scarce and very expensive when you can find stock. My Fat-Bike is fitted with a set of Sun Ringle Mulefüt 24 inch, 80mm wide rims. Currently running 4inch Maxxis tyres. It looks like the rim product page includes the fitment of 27.5 inch tyres as a possibility. (https://sun-ringle.com/product/mulefut-80sl-2/) I can get a set of cheap(ish) Chaoyang 27.5 x 2.1 Tubeless MTB Tyres (R549 ea) from Sportsman’s warehouse. Does anybody know if fitting the narrower tyres on the Mulefüt rims is feasible? Off course the bike won’t be a Fat-Bike anymore, but the frame and fork is still perfectly serviceable as a general gravel and trail bike for fun outings.

What about pBikes? It is exactly like an eBike, just uses a different kind of motion lotion. Makes sense to me, it is much, much cheaper (only R2,400 for a motor - and you get to upcycle your old frame), lighter (only 11kg for the entire motor kit), goes further 50km/l, the tank holds 2l, and it certainly is not a silent killer. People can hear ya for miles around. Oh, BTW, it only goes well if you assist with the pedaling...

I made a short video of the 2018 Around the Pot event. Handlebar view of the foggy 60 miler leg. My wife and I had a blast:

There is a fat-bike category in the Bike Hub's classifieds. Check regularly. Serious fat-bike pilots can find good deals here. Fat is not dead yet. Global Fat-Bike day is on 2 Dec 2017. See post here: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/170956-global-fat-bike-day-2-dec-2017-gfbd2017/

If a trail system is affiliated to IMBA, this should be noted: IMBA believes all recreational uses of public lands should be managed on an individual use and trail-by-trail basis through the diligent application of benefits based management, preferred use and environmental impact assessment. These land management principles work together to give people the outdoor experiences they seek in a way that mitigates the effects associated with their use so that future generations can enjoy similar experiences. FAQ Q: Is IMBA for or against motorized recreation? A: Neither, IMBA is an advocate for the interests of mountain biking and the development and maintenance of single-track trails. IMBA objects to land management practices and principles that address mountain biking and motorized uses as a single class. Mountain biking involves a spectrum of riding styles with a narrow band of environmental impacts that are similar to hiking and equestrian uses. When classification is necessary, mountain biking should be part of the non-motorized class. Q: How does IMBA view electric assist and electric bicycles (e-Bikes)? A: Electric bicycles are a welcome addition to the cycling community. They allow for carrying heavy loads and offer assistance to those who could not otherwise experience much of the fun of cycling and add a de minimus amount of additional impact. However, the use of a motor whether internal combustion or electric would require changing the classification to a motorized use. IMBA would support the use of e-Bikes anywhere that we could also support other motorized uses. source: http://dirtragmag.com/ebikes/

Nice to hear about another Fatty convert. You should check out this guy's blog - fascinating stuff...http://coastkid.blogspot.co.za/

Your mates are right! It was the coolest jol ever. Nature, new friendships, slack Fatbike riding and chilling out won. I was also super impressed by the spontaneous cycling-chic beach fashion statements made by many of the Fatbike pilots. You are going to the beach, right? Bright Hawaiian shirts, baggies and the hottest shades ever... Loved it.

Thank you to the organisers, sponsors and fellow Fatbike pilots, it was a fantastic adventure ride. We thoroughly enjoyed the beach riding, painterly scenery, and the beer! I also learnt a new trick... How to open a craft beer with your Fatbike's wheel:

Maybe the perfect opportunity to pool the purchasing power of Hubbers and develop an app to combine weekly requirements for spares, bulk order from wherever it is the cheapest, save on shipping and distribute to individuals via Mr. Delivery. Like Uber for bicycle parts.

If our club ever gets to vote about allowing off-road e-bikes on our trails, I will vote against granting permission. The trails were founded for mountain biking, and mountain biking is a human powered activity. Pure and simple. In the meantime, I think the term "human powered only" needs to be included in trail rules and cycling club's constitutions. If a person wants to ride an off-road e-bike, it would be prudent set up dedicated e-bike clubs and trails for this purpose. I guess its going to be difficult. It was damn difficult to get mountain biking trails established and the permissions are fragile.

Sorry to hear about this. Violent bike crime is now out of hand all over the country. I've been doing a lot of Googling to find devices for self-protection and to assist recovering stolen bicycles. Most available GPS devices are expensive, have short battery life and require some sort of subscription fee for tracking. Perhaps the most cost effective solution at the moment is DataDot Microdot. Brush on a 1000 near invisible microdots all over your bicycle. A UV reader device will pick up the dots and positively identify the bike or components. Kit available for R449. See: http://datadot.co.za/datadot_buy_for_bicycle.php

The electric-motor cycle manufacturers want to sell e-bicycles. So, next year's model will have e few more kilowatts of power to entice the market out there. The resourcefulness of tinkerers already have ways to override the governor of exiting machines or instructables to add extra zoom to last year's sloth. see this thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/electric-bikes/434853-disconnect-governor-speed-limiter.html It will be impossible to ban the new more powerful electric-motor bicycles from the trails because a president has been set with the previous models. At the Geelsloot bike park in Somerset West I've been told a kid on a small petrol help-my-trap contraption is damaging the berms at the park. By definition, mountain biking should remain a human powered only. Trails designated for use by mountain bikes, should not include assisted anything. My feeling is that eBikes riders should start their own trails and stage their own events.

That is one of the problems I foresee. Electric-motor cycles allows relatively inexperienced riders to go faster than their skills actually permit. The rider and very expensive ebike will soon be in the repair shop. That is okay by me, as long as damage claims does not affect the trail as we know it. I've taken the trouble to cycle at my wife's pace and it wasn't long before she wanted a better bike. Now I struggle to keep up with her. Simple, no e-anything required.

Don't even mention that it could cause a reVOLT, but hey some people are AMPED up about it.

Mad Maxxis

There are many opinions, but I like this one: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/opinion-a-secret-trail-and-the-argument-against-e-bikes-2014.html

Maybe I am over reacting. I've seen the speeds these things can attain on the road in Barcelona and I am concerned that similar off-road speeds will present trail maintenance problems and rider conflict and encourage even more powerful cycles to also feel they have a right to use the trail. I have seen what damage a motorcycle does to our trails.

Electric mountain bikes are beginning to trickle into the country and will soon find their way on to your favourite MTB trail. What would the appropriate local approach be to these bikes? My immediate reaction is to say no to allowing e-bikes on traditional MTB trails. Mountain biking should remain a non-motorised sport. Riding e-bikes on natural surface trails is not mountain biking. It is preciously difficult to keep mountain bike trails maintained and open as it is. The risk of loosing the goodwill of land owners and loosing access to a trail is very real. Mixing motorised bicycles into the equation is an unknown factor and could easily sour the deal for all. What constitutes an e-bike has been defined in some countries, but I am uncertain about the local situation. The problem is that electric mountain bikes are getting more powerful all the time and it would be difficult to regulate if an e-bike is within or over specification. The battery assisted power provided by these bikes could easily lead to irresponsible use of trails. Dedicated trails for e-bikes is my second reaction. These bikes are the new kids on the block, they need to establish their own playground. It is not all negative. These bikes would be great for commuting, even a boon to mounted trail marshals, guided tour groups and dirt track touring. I am not sure if event organizers have considered what to do about e-bike entries?

Problem Solved (I think) I had a spare Shimano Acera M390 9 speed compatible front derailleur floating about in the garage. I thought, what the heck, and fitted it. The shifting seemed to be really sweet during the setup on the bike stand. I should get an opportunity to try out the mech's performance on the trail tomorrow. The clearance between the replacement derailleur's clamp mechanism and the rear tyre is a bit smaller than the outgoing XT mech, so it is going to be a real crud catcher in winter. It was also possible to fit the Acera derailleur a little closer to the big chain wheel than the outgoing derailleur.

Thanks a stack. I also live in Somerset West.

Thanks a lot for the offer. I could also remove mine and bring it along to compare. (Stellenbosch?) The interference of the derailleur is at the bottom part of its cage against the chain stay, when selecting the smallest ring. The seat tube has plenty of mounting space for the derailleur clamp and there is lots of room to move it up or down. I've written to Momsen with the same query and the response I got was that most of their customers build up their steel frames as single speed rigs, or with dual front ring set-ups. They recommended that I should also look at SRAM front derailleurs, which apparently would work with my XT shifters. Not exactly much help. I was hoping to get a derailleur model number that would fit the geometry and my drive setup. The selection options on the web is overwhelming and the jargon not so clear for a novice at component sourcing. I've heard of short, long and medium cage derailleurs, but it is not obvious from the online spec-sheets which is which. Then there is a 'total teeth number' and seat tube angle just to confuse you even more. I think a derailleur with a shorter cage (perhaps a medium) will work on my frame, but I am not sure if it is compatible with a triple chain-ring.

Hi Tankman. It looks like a bottom clamp to me. (Not being an expert, I could be wrong). Image here: http://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-XT-FD-M770-10-Front-Derailleur

Thanks fanievb, but I need to get the derailleur in a lower position down the seat tube, towards the bb, not further away from the bb, if I understand the function of the spacer you describe correctly.