Karakoram

Found this on Wannabee Buzz # 248: (http://wannabteam.co.za/w/p5863/) 'Help Wanted We will be marking the western side of the Helderberg MTB route on Saturday 18th August from 14:00 onwards. Please drop me a mail if you can assist.' This must be the extension of the Helderberg MTB route.

That's what I am trying to find out too. Some of the directional signage featured emergency contact numbers (standard 1011 contact details) and I also saw other directional arrows featuring green arrows. Seems like two routes have been marked, a yellow and a green loop.

Ek het al met een van die boere in die omgewing gesels en hy het nie 'n probleem met fietsryers in sy wingerde nie. Ander het onlangs kettings oor die paaitjies gespan, hopelik eerder om vreemde motors uit te hou. Dit sal egter beter wees om 'amptelik' daar te kan ry. Ek ry feitlik elke middag in die omgewing en geniet die omgewing geweldig baie. Daar is altyd iets anders aan te gebeure om elke die rit uniek te maak. Soms sorg die plaaswerkers vir 'n baie humoristiese oomblik. Nou die dag vat ek 'n lang bult en twee plaas anties sit en rook op 'n stomp in die sonnetjie. Die een skuif haar sigret eenkant toe en deur 'n blou rookdamp skreeu sy vir my: 'Gooi, pappie, gooi. Die bult lê nog vêr!' Ek gooi toe mooi, want my 'move's word fyn dopgehou. Ek het 'n email aan die Wannabees klub gestuur en hoop om binnekort meer inligting te bekom.

Love it!

Yesterday afternoon I found newly attached route markers in the vineyards behind the Firgrove waterworks. Does anybody have any idea if this is a new MTB route? The Wannabees Cycling club have marked a route on the other side of the R44, perhaps this is an extension of the original route? Unfortunately there are no details on the club's website. More information would be appreciated.

Yesterday, about 12km from home, Helderberg in the background. I am riding my 1995 vintage MTB and my wife on 'Petal'

Yep, I also found this out the hard way. Just couldn't get my front dérailleur's shifting adjusted properly. Did everything by the book, but it only came together after re-fitting the chain properly.

We can't rely on others to protect our bikes from theft Bike Theft: The Movie is an experiment observing public reactions to a series of bike thefts in a busy market More information here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/feb/06/protect-bikes-theft According to the film, in the UK a bicycle is stolen every minute and less than 5% of owners get their bikes back. It is estimated that only 20% of thefts are reported to the police. Of those whose bikes are stolen, 66% cycle less after a theft and 24% stop cycling altogether. Just what is it with people and stealing bikes?

My wife loves cycling, but finds operating the trigger shifters and brake levers (combined Shimano units) to be very difficult at times, due to arthritis. The thumb push movement to operate the shift lever as well as pulling the brake levers is very painful for her. Arthritis flare ups are bad at times, but most days it remains noticeable in her hands. I figured that perhaps a twist shifter would be easier for her to operate and ordered a 7 speed SRAM unit from REI.com. (Nice site, very quick service). This weekend I fitted the twisters and also two new Avid V-brake brake levers. (The previous brakes and shifters were combined units as often fitted to entry-level bikes). The SRAM twisters were very easy to install and to hook up to the existing Shimano derailers, both front and rear. They are supplied as a front and back set, complete with gear cable and new three quarter rubber grips for $19. See http://www.rei.com/s...ifter+-+7+Speed The test ride today proved to be a resounding success! The twisters are way easier for her to operate and the new brake levers provided much better brake modulation. The end result was very little pain and much gain. Big smiles all round.

Picked up this 2011 Crosstrail Sport Disc (hybrid) bicycle for R4800 on Specialized's year end sale (running till 27 Jan 2012 - for details see their SA Fbook page). Great value for money bicycle for those riders interested in doing some gravel travel as well as tar. Specifications of the cycle here: http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=52744&eid=6070&menuItemId=14885 I've done about 400km on this bicycle, mostly on gravel roads. It is a very comfortable bike, easy on the back and hands; it comes standard with ergonomic grips and a riser bar. Riding posture is a little more upright compared to my MTB, averting neck pain problems. The saddle is comfortable even after a continuous run of 66km and it has special scuff patches on the side walls to prevent damage when leaning the bike against a wall. The frame has braze-on points for bike racks fore and aft as well as mounting points for two water bottles. The 700 x 45c tyres roll easily over gravel and make the cycle very quick and efficient on tar. The bike is not meant to be used over very rough patches. I covered about 5km of really loose rock and sandy jeep track, and found the front spring shock (75mm travel) and narrow tyres having reached their coping limits. The track had to be negotiated quite slowly, but was still doable. The bike's tyres are remarkably grippy and sure-footed on gravel without suffering any punctures yet (added sludge to the tubes). I am sure it will be possible to upgrade to slightly fatter profile tyres when the originals wear down, as there are plenty clearances on the fork and frame. Stopping ability is quite adequately provided by the disc brakes. Shifting is slick, the 8 speed drive components are robust, the 11-32 cassette is motivated by 48-38-28 front chainrings which provide good speed but perhaps not as much low gear capability as most MTBs. Why would one buy a hybrid bike? If cycle for recreation and fitness, and racing is not really a priority, this is a very comfortable bike, the benefit of big wheels, ability to fit touring racks, capable on gravel and tar, and low cost! A good entry level bike when you decide to take up cycling after 30 something.

The 4 P's of marketing are: product (the right stuff), place (availability), price (value for money) and promotion (product awareness). To move product, all of the P's need to be in place almost simultaneously. Simple in theory. If not, damage control is required, otherwise sales will suffer. No wonder overseas on-line shopping is taking off in SA. On-line browsing is magic. Information, choice and availability is extremely attractively presented and instantly available. Price and after sales service, however still remains a slight problem. Duties, exchange rates, shipping and taxes cloud the initial euphoria about an item's on-line sticker price, but not enough to completely deter. The thing is, once you've done your research you really don't want to settle for a similar local product, nor do you want to wait indefinitely for an answer about the item's price or possible local availability. Suddenly the item's on-line price penalty becomes bearable (up to a point), and it becomes very tempting to click to submit an on-line order. I could land an On-One Inbred 29er Swap-Out XT Pro (£915.8 = R12,707 sticker price) for about R16,862 (R4,155 shipping, duties, VAT etc.) I've heard that the XXIX+G will retail in the region of R17,000, but when and where will it be available near me? No information is available. The Inbred could be delivered to my front door within a week. Click

Both

Hi Grant, thanks for the feedback. How about setting up a Facebook page till the official website is launched(Something like: http://www.facebook.com/RaleighBikesUK). As you can see, some of the folks on this forum are seriously interested in the brand and would like to stay in touch. There may even be many more brand fans outside of this forum and a Fbook page will allow interaction. Remember, the marketplace is very dynamic and I just noticed that Momsen is about to launch a very similar steel 29er frame. Raleigh still has the brand advantage in my opinion, but in the end, the deal probably gets clinched on price and availability where the products are similar enough. Brand then becomes the least important consideration.

In the last two issues of Tread Magazine, Raleigh SA flighted a double page advertisement for their XXIX+G and XXIX models. These great looking steel-frame hard-tails got me interested and I wanted to find out a little more about the bikes. This has proven somewhat difficult because Raleigh SA's website, after two months still announces that they will be moving in soon, the 'info' contact email goes unanswered and the contact number goes to voice mail. I'd Raleigh like to know what they cost and who would be stocking them here in Cape Town. How not to re-launch your brand is my impression.

Take no chances boet, always kept my underwear far away from a product called 'Stay Soft'

Ditto for me. Couldn't give two figs about racing. No need for speed. Relieved to hear there are a few other like minded off-roaders out there. I also do it with 29 inches.

I've got two hardtail MTBs, a 29er and a 1995-vintage 26er. I like riding both bikes for recreation, equally much. What I've noticed though, is that the 26er gives me much more of a workout when I look at my heart-rate monitor's results (Calories burned) at the end of the ride. (Comparing the same routes more or less). Granted, there are many variables having an influence, such as the bike's gearing, weight and prevailing conditions on different riding days, but this observation has been consistent over a number of rides during the past year though. Anybody else also experienced something similar?

I'm thinking of selling my 1995 Gary Fisher Marlin mountain bike, 19.5" frame. I've had it from new and it spent a good deal of time just 'sitting' in the garage. (Disgusting if I think of that now). The bike is mostly in its original condition, but does have a few paint scratches. The back rim has been replaced and I've changed the original 7 speed 11-28 cassette, to a 12-32 ratio. I've still got the original saddle, cassette, yellow CWC saddle bag and booklet that came with the bike. I still ride it on occasions, rode it yesterday and it is still going very well. However I am considering getting another bike and won't have enough room to store an addition to the family. Your opinion please, what is it worth? (Specs of the bike here: http://www.bikepedia.com/quickbike/BikeSpecs.aspx?Year=1995&Brand=Gary%20Fisher&Model=Marlin&Type=bike)

The store only seems to offer frames, clothing and components. BUT Maverick Cycles from Maritzburg KZN got back to me and can get the bicycle and have it delivered to Cape Town, all included, for around R17k.

I googled, but could not find a supplier of Kona's 2012 Honzo model in Cape Town. Both Bowman's and The Bicycle Company turned up a blank as potential stockists of my 'dream machine'. I am interested in getting one of these babies: http://www.konaworld.com/29er_hardtail.cfm?content=honzo http://www.konaworld.com/images/bikes/med/honzo.jpg Why is it always that the perfect bike on the web, is not available locally? Any other suppliers I could try?

Ooh, looks delicious!

Finally! We took delivery of the bicycle yesterday afternoon. On such a small frame there is hardly any place to mount a water bottle cage, hence the position on the handlebar. The bike has an awesome granny gear. No, not the pink one on the saddle The test ride in blustery conditions went very well.

Good theory, but somehow when I step into the garage to fetch a bike, I mostly gravitate to the newer (1 year old) ride. It's a little nicer to peddle and also has front suspension. My old bike is simple, fully rigid and made of steel and that's why I still like it so much. All that it requires to bring it back into circulation is a little nip and tuck here and there. Apart from the slacker cassette, I also bought a pair of ergo grips to dampen the trail buzz.

I found a SRAM 12-32T 7 speed cassette at ChainReaction for R163 and dropped that into my shopping basket. Hope it fits and I am sure it's going to give the old bike a new lease on life.

I've still got my second mountain bike, bought in 1995, a 7 speed Gary Fisher Marlin. The bike is in a very good condition and every so often I like to take it out for a ride. In comparison to my (dare I say it) two-niner, the older bike it is not such an easy climber. The two-niner runs a 24/32/42T chainwheel with 10 speed 11-34T cassette. My old bike runs a 24/34/42T chainwheel and a 7 speed 11-28T cassette. In an attempt to match the easier climbing ability of my new bike, I am toying with the idea of having a 11-32T cassette fitted. Anybody out there who would like to venture a guess if this will make a big enough difference? Are there any better ratios to consider, staying with a 7 speed cluster. I don't want to change derailers, shifters or any other components. Phoning around, it seems that 7 speed gear have become obsolete. What is the logic of having the same gear ratios, but with 10X3 instead of 7X3 selection options? Seven speed components seems to be chunkier and tougher and way less expensive than 8,9 or 10 speed components.